Babs and Baby

My mom, who we affectionately call Babs, is the best. Coincidentally, so is my baby. The two of them together is simply amazing (they're almost my favorite - just a notch below Didz and Ina, of course). 

I'm so glad we have these lazy days together - to take walks, hang out on the front porch, and eat our toes. We got our first taste of summer today, in the form of an 80 degree heatwave - I see beach days and cold beverages in our future.

Summertime has finally arrived. Whoop!

And she's off...

The bug and I had a great long weekend up in Toronto with Didz and his family, but we're back in Cohasset at my parents house while Didz is in Belgium taking care of some unfinished business for a couple weeks. We miss him so much, and I wish so badly we could all be in Belgium together. It feels like we've been back from our European adventure for an eternity already, and even though I'm so excited for what's ahead for us (CALIFORNIA!), I truly and wholeheartedly miss our little Belgium. It's moments like this that I'm so glad I started writing this blog so many moons ago. I'll always have our photos and our stories to look back on. It's the next best thing to being there... 

While I'm here, Ina is keeping me busy. This new crawling stage she's entered is definitely keeping me on my toes. She's a quick little bugger - I turn my back for two seconds and she's BOLTING across the room (usually chasing after the poor cat). It's great... but woah. 

Time to do some babyproofing around here. 

Homemade Apple Sauce

Step One: Peel, Core, Chop Apples

Step Two: Simmer, and Puree until smooth

Step Three: Enjoy

We're heading back to Toronto for the weekend - we can't live without Didz a minute longer. Happy Memorial Day Weekend! I hope there's some good BBQ and cold beverages on your agenda these next few days!

Cruisin'

After a long week, the bug is finally feeling better. Yesterday, she took her first ride on her new trike. She LOVES it (which of course makes her bicycle-enthusiast grandfather very happy). 

I'm not mentally prepared for the day we remove the "mama handle" and she can pedal around herself. Next thing we know she'll be backing the car out of the driveway and driving off. But for now, we're enjoying our little outings around the neighborhood together. 

I mean.... come on, right?? It's pretty much the cutest thing ever. 

Weekend Bits

It was a quiet weekend, spent nursing the little bug back to health. The weather was beautiful, so I took a couple walks while Ina napped in her carrier. The fresh air did us both good, I think. Plus, walks around here are good for the soul...

Saturday night we had lobster for dinner. Cito was in heaven.

I also spent a little time playing with my new camera lens:

The bug is feeling a lot better this morning, she's a little more lively and the little sparkle is back in her eyes... let's hope she's back to her old self soon.

Have a great week!

Seven Months

Dear Didzette,

Another month has flown by, sweet little bug, but we're not celebrating today. You've been sick all week with a nasty flu - it's your first time being sick and my heart has just been breaking for you. I feel so helpless, and wish so badly I could kiss it away. You've been so miserable, and I hope you feel better soon. I miss my happy girl. Not much makes you smile these days... except for one little thing. If I show you a picture of your daddy your eyes light up and you give me a BIG smile. It's the sweetest thing, and I know you miss him so much while we're away.

I miss him, too.

Even though you've been sick, we've had a nice visit with your grandparents. They try to cheer you up with silly songs and your darling grandmother taught you how to pull ALL the kleenex out of the box - it's become your favorite game (thanks a lot, mom).

Let's go wipe your nose (you HATE it when I do that), and get you all better so we could play and giggle and practice crawling and do all those cute baby things you do best.

xo,
Mama

Cocktail Hour

Around here, we take Cocktail Hour very seriously. It's a way of life, really. In the summertime, having appetizers and drinks on the front porch before dinner is a daily event - one of life's little pleasures. We sit, and sip and chat, and watch the cars and joggers and bicyclists and kids running home from their little league games. In the past ten years that they've lived here, my parents have not only adapted to life in a small New England town, they've nearly perfected it. I didn't grow up here, in fact I've never lived in this house for more than a few weeks at a time (my parents moved here when I was already out of the house). But this town, and this house, hold a special place in my heart. Time slows down here. Worries are lessened. And Cocktail Hour is promptly at five.

Have a wonderful weekend... Cheers!

Cito + Ina

When Didz and I first moved in together, we got a little black cat named Cito. When we moved to Belgium, Cito went to live with my parents. He's been king of the castle in their house (his tremendous weight gain in the past year and a half proves he's been eating like a king, too). When I made plans to fly down to visit my parents this week, I was a little worried how Cito would react to meeting Ina for the first time - he's been known to be a bit of a punk. Turns out, I had nothing to worry about. These two became fast friends...

Ina's been under the weather the past few days, so we've been hanging around in pjs and taking lots of naps. Hopefully she'll be back to her usual smiley self soon. But for now, Cito's taking good care of her.

Weekend Bits

The three of us went up north to the Didz Family Cottage for the weekend. It was such a relaxing, restful and wonderful escape from the city. While it wasn't summertime weather (no swimming, water skiing or late nights by the fire pit... in fact, it SNOWED on our drive home last night), it was cozy and cuddly and so nice to be unplugged for a few days. I couldn't help but imagine all the fun childhood memories Ina will create there over the years with our family... jumping off the dock into the lake, running around in the grass, learning to water ski (Didz is an excellent teacher - he taught me during my first summer at the cottage), and snuggling up in the evenings after a fun day in the sunshine.

Here's a peek of our stay:

Also, while we were up north, the bug mastered her army crawl.... We. Are. In. Trouble.

Tomorrow, the babette and I are flying to Boston to see my parents and eat some lobster! I'll post updates throughout our stay so Didz could see what kind of trouble his girls are getting into:)

Have a wonderful week!

Tacos x2

As if we didn't eat enough tacos on Sunday with our friends TK and Vija... Yesterday we went down to our favorite little hole in the wall El Salvadorian place, ordered up a bunch of tacos and papusas and chilled out at a nearby park sipping horchata while Ina slept in her carrier...

Maybe we'll celebrate Taco Tuesday with round 3 today...

Weekend Bits

We had such a wonderful weekend - the weather was beautiful, we saw friends from out of town, we lounged and people-watched at the park, we took a walk by a creek, we celebrated our good buddy's 30th birthday, and we ate a million tacos...

Here's a glimpse:

These guys were reunited...

...and they haven't changed a bit.

I hope you had a great Cinco de Mayo weekend, too!